BRINGING BACK THE ‘BOOM’

Volunteers raise money to help I.B. put on fireworks

IMPERIAL BEACH 
It’s official. The city of Imperial Beach will have its own fireworks show at the pier Friday, the first in more than 30 years.

The reality is thanks to a push from the community and financial backing from businesses, residents and the city.

Council members voted May 21 to support the community in its quest for fireworks, splitting the $50,000 cost 50/50.

The city had attempted to get an application in with the Port of San Diego to participate again in the Big Bay Boom event in which fireworks are launched from barges in San Diego Bay, but it was too late to be included.

Imperial Beach residents Candy Unger and Tim O’Neal said they couldn’t let the city have a Fourth of July without fireworks.

Unger says the time-honored tradition of fireworks in Imperial Beach has been shared over generations with family, friends and neighbors, and that a fireworks show is part of the fabric of Imperial Beach and helps foster community pride.

The Bring Back the Boom campaign kickoff began May 13 and within three weeks about $12,500 was raised from Imperial Beach families, but as of June 19 the total was about $14,000.

“It started off extremely strong,” Unger said. “I didn’t see it going this way.”

Unger credited the city, which is picking up the roughly $11,000 balance of the community’s share, for bringing the boom back to Imperial Beach.

Public Safety Director Tom Clark said the city realized the community might not be able to raise $25,000 and that the last payment is due July 7 so the community still has the opportunity to close the gap.

“We’re going to keep fundraising,” Unger said. “We’re going to walk the beach the Fourth of July ... We won’t quit until 11:59 the last day.”

In total, the city is paying about $40,000, which includes $22,000 in hard costs for sheriff’s deputies, the port, animal control, parking signs and portable toilets and services from the Fire Department, Public Works, fire prevention and lifeguard overtime at about $8,000.

Clark said the most important thing for people watching the fireworks is to be respectful of the environment.

“If we want to continue to do this we need to be good stewards of the environment and protect the habitat from being trampled on,” he said.

Clark said while there are typically 25,000 people on the beach during the day that will expand up to 40,000 or 50,000 for the fireworks show.

The fireworks at the Imperial Beach Pier start at 9 p.m. The show is anticipated to last 18 to 20 minutes.

SEA180 coastal tavern is offering food, drinks and fireworks packages from 6:30 to 10 p.m., beginning at $50 per person and going up to $70 per person, excluding tax and gratuity. To find out if tickets are available, call (619) 631-4949.